Hi all, I just recently joined the Cigar Box Nation! I happened upon this site while building my first cigar box guitar. I have learned a lot from all of you in regards to building these awesome guitars. Although, I had some trouble figuring out how to make a scarf joint without a table saw, so I came up with this idea. I noticed there is a lot of discussion about how to make the joint and I wanted to share this easy trick with all of you.
1. take a 3/4" pine board about 12" long and cut one end at 15 degrees with miter saw.
2. attach a strip of wood to the back side of cut piece of wood to clamp to the saw.
3. attach another small strip along the angle you just cut to help "rest" your neck material against.
4. cut a headstock peice about 6 inches or so.
5. set saw to 0 degrees with jig attached to miter saw.
6. cut the 15 degree angle on the headstock piece using the jig.
7. cut the 15 degree angle on the neck and glue and clamp the two together.
See attached photos!
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I've been wresting with ways to get the strings off the nut for my cello-bo and its been a hack and a kludge and broken strings. All of this because I didn't think i had the skills to make that "Bent neck thingee." And I check The Nation this morning and there it is! And I have a compound miter saw, so I built the jig and then my first cut.
It isnt' complete junk... :- ), my cut that is, the idea is awesome!
Thanks for showing me that right way is the easy way!
PS: I re-did the above joint to eliminate the tiny knot right at the end...
That came out nice and straight.
Lately I've been dry fitting the pieces together, clamp and drill 2 holes for short wood screws(don't want to go through on the bottom piece), take apart and apply glue. Put the 2 pieces back together and screw them together tight(this negates the use of clamps in awkward positions). After the glue dries, remove the screws, drill the holes to 1/4" and glue in 1/4" dowels. After that dries you trim cut and sand, then your ready for the next step and the dowels add some strength to the scarf joint.
Hey Paul Thats a great Idea, I am going to use it Thank you for sharing, Have to be careful where to screw though right?
Yes you do have to be careful where your drilling. I got those a little too close to the edge of the neck. You don't want the screws too close to the edge or too close to the middle if your going to have a trussrod.
These pics show how the dowels ended up right on the edge of the neck.
Hey your doing great thanks for the pictures and your installing a trussrod wow you must have some great tools and knowledge about woodworking
These are non-adjustable steel rods. That one was a bit too big, but I already had it so I used it. Any git with 4 or more strings at 25" scale or longer would be a good idea to have a trussrod.
I was a furniture builder at one time and that gives me the experience to do things with the minimal tools I have. I have a router, miter chop saw, hand circular saw, hand drill, dremel multitool, jitterbug palm sander and an angle grinder. Lots of drill bits, chisels and other hand tools.
The trussrod channels have been cut using Forstner bits in my hand drill and cleaned up with a chisel and hammer.
It's great to have all the best equipment, but the simple tools can do the job if you think it out and use the right jigs to help out.
Go to your local Home Depot/Lowe's/large hareware store and rent some instructional videos or look up some good youtube videos for woodworking and good ideas.
Got yer Paul, thanks for the help here, right now Im mentally visualizing
the work and how Im gonna do the neck, slow and easy does it right?
Im working to make a 4 string Cigarbox job. It is really fun looking, I will get there eventually and very slowly lol. Theres a guy here built a 3 string in 4 or 5 hours take me a lot longer for sure, hey theres no rush right.
Thanks for your kind help with this challenge for me. I have ordered a Video
from Dog House I think it is called, should get it next couple weeks or so, its coming from your country USA Im in the UK
Have a great New Years eve evening Paul
Happy New Blessed Year to all.
Take your time, patience pays off, think it all out before doing anything, measure twice, cut once and beat into place. LOL
If you mess up, it's no big deal. fix it if you can or cover it up and play dumb or say you meant for it to be that way for looks.
Yes O K first I need to get me some tools, a saw, and a plane, not an air plane, spoke shave something else sandpaper etc etc wood could help to start lol.
Thanks Paul appreciate your thoughts and help
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